CrazyCresties

Thanks LG :) Will do :D It does, but also seeing a nice pink tongue is one of the things you learn to keep an eye out for with IMHA dogs. Sorry one of your has vaccinosis

A year ago today Louis was diagnosed with Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), like most others whose dogs go down with this, I had never heard of it before. Learning about this condition and the high mortality rates was a very scary process My vets were fantastic throughout this and with their knowledge and care Louis fought his way through it and has now been drug free for 3 months. It was frightening how quickly this developed, he was seemingly fine one day and then quiet and off his food the next. Initially a tummy bug was suspected, but after blood tests revealed an alarmingly low PCV we knew something else was going on. He became very lethargic, had very dark coloured urine and total loss of appetite. Further blood tests showed anaemia, spherocytes and agglutination and IMHA was diagnosed. He had x-rays and ultrasounds to see if any tumours were lurking that could be the cause, but no underlying cause was ever found. Many people suspect it is related to vaccinations, but Louis last vaccines had been 3 years previously. However, about a month before we left them for three nights in the care of what turned out to be a house sitter from hell. While the animals were seeming fine when we returned (unlike the state of our house!) I wonder if he was totally stressed during those few days, and if this was the trigger? I'll never really know. His treatment was basically a very dose of Pred and Atopica (Cyclosporin). The pred totally knocked him for six and had all sorts of side effects, but it saved his life while the Atopica kicked in. We weaned him off all pred by October, and he had his last dose of Atopica in February. I guess I'm posting this as a celebration of my little buddy still being here with me - he is my heart dog and I don't think a day went by without tears during the early weeks of his diagnosis. But also to try to raise a bit of awareness about it, as it's one of those conditions that is just not known about until it hits, and it hits hard Some useful links and support groups. http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_imha.html http://users.cloudnet.com/jdickson/index.html https://www.facebook.com/groups/6228146980/ http://community.dog.com/health/diseases_az/f/29482/t/90432.aspx He also developed glaucoma and pancreatitis over the past few months, but looking at him now he is the dog he was before IMHA - cheeky and full of life and bounce and I love him to bits :D Some phone snaps from the weekend :heart:

Sounds interesting, I'm sure you'll learn lots :p

You did? Damn I have zero recollection about it :laugh: Hope you enjoy it :)

Might have gone if I'd know about it :p

Well our house sitter did a great job - the house was spotless when we returned and the animals all ok, which was such a relief after the disaster with the previous one! I don't think she'll be rushing back to us though as the little sods turned into indoor peeing machines in our absence I think I'll have to see which kennels will accept titre results instead of vaccination certs and maybe try that next time. We gave her a gift box of things from Margaret River - smellies and chocolate etc. and some cash in the end.

Awww such cuties :D I saw some Iggies at the weekend at a lure coursing event - so adorable and loved seeing them run

Really love this shot - the eyes, composition and wonky whiskers are all just great! You're getting some super shots with your new toy, and congrats on your new addition - he is gorgeous :D

Awww what cute cows! and good action shots - I like the aerial motorbike :)

Thanks Snook and Spoony :) Ozstar - let me know when you get the pup and I'll swap you ;) :laugh:

No way!! :laugh:

Thanks pers :) and sorry to confuse you Snook :laugh: I'm not usually very confident in my B&Ws, but I did like how this one turned out.

Awwww, Happy Birthday Penny What a dear old girl she is

Thanks guys :) Teekay - the spider was handheld, and so were the birds, but I was in the car for the birds so braced against the open window :) I liked how the fourth one turned out too, even though you can't see his head as he was dipping forwards to grab the grapes below. This is a colour version, not sure which I like the best.....

Oh dear, I don't see poor pig lasting much longer! :laugh:

He just keeps getting more and more handsome Love the photo of Esky racing too, what a great shot :)

Thanks Snook, 600mm is awesome! I had a birthday weekend down in the south west and my fav birds made an appearance on my birthday when we were at a vineyard - more Carnaby's :) IMGA1818 by HairlessHounds, on Flickr IMGA1772 by HairlessHounds, on Flickr IMGA1785 by HairlessHounds, on Flickr IMGA1790 by HairlessHounds, on Flickr And an orb spider, not too bad as a pseudo macro lens ;) IMGA1885 by HairlessHounds, on Flickr

Badbee - how's your little girl going? I hope she is feeling brighter now.

Vet asap, my dog went down with IMHA last year. Dark urine and very lethargic. I don't want to scare you but I would get to a vet as soon as possible. Are her gums pale, is she eating? edit to change he to she

Thanks HW ???? Missing the dogs but enjoying a rare weekend away!

Shame you're not in Perth LG :)

The dials may be different but how aperture, iso and shutter speed all relate doesn't change, and if you're used to manual you already have that in your head :)

:laugh: I switched to manual one day as I was trying to photograph a jet black dog, a yellow one and a chocolate one all together - I decided to tell the camera what to do as it obviously couldn't figure it out for itself and the exposure was all over the place :laugh: It's just like second nature now and isn't scary once you get the hang of it, Don will be perfect for practising blacks :)

Someone put up a great collection of links recently that might help, now who was it..... http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/256678-so-you-want-a-new-camera-confused-inexperienced/ :p :p :p

I have said free run of food, internet, foxtel movies etc., so maybe a nice gift and a bottle of wine when we return. We had a total nightmare with the last one we tried who was a 'professional' dog walker and house sitter, so am a bit nervous about leaving them again